branch 1 of 2

noun

ˈbranch How to pronounce branch (audio)
Definition of branchnext
1
as in limb
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant I loved climbing among the branches of that old tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in affiliate
a local unit of an organization a bank with many neighborhood branches

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tributary
a stream that flows into a larger body of water the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile are the three primary branches of the Nile River

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the two branches of the U.S. Congress

Synonyms & Similar Words

branch

2 of 2

verb

as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point threads branched from the center of the spider web

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of branch
Noun
Each uniform represents a different branch of service women volunteered for, including the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy. — Yvonne Zusel, AJC.com, 30 June 2026 The court of appeal further ruled Guild had sufficiently alleged CCM had aided, and benefited from, then-Guild branch manager Christopher Flowers’s breach of his fiduciary duty to Guild. — Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2026
Verb
These trees have strong branching structures and enough space for students to safely learn different climbing techniques. — Sharon Jean-Philippe, The Conversation, 25 June 2026 Nintendo has branched into theme parks through partnerships with Universal Studios. — David Henkin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for branch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for branch
  1. limb
  2. affiliate
  3. tributary
  4. department
  5. radiate
  6. cell
  7. agency
  8. stem
Noun
  • Or gawky characters, all angular bone structures and willowy limbs?
    — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 3 July 2026
  • Deirdre massaged my limbs while the cups went to work on my perpetually achy upper back.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Crawford is hoping to work his way up to an affiliate, but finishing this season healthy would be a massive victory in and of itself.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of affiliate
Noun
  • Rough weather rolled over the Colorado community of Evergreen on Wednesday night, swelling Bear Creek and tributaries and tossing debris and mud into homes and downtown.
    — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • The property features over a mile of frontage along Fall River and controls two of the river’s primary spring-fed tributaries — Spring Creek and Lava Creek, according to Hall and Hall.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • The department said the tragedy is an important reminder to drivers to always make sure children are not left in cars, especially in hot weather.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
  • Additional details are expected to be released on Monday, the department said.
    — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of department
Verb
  • The 43 rooms are spread across two neighboring heritage mansions in the old fisherman village of Sariyer and radiate Old World elegance in the most understated of ways, letting the intricate moldings and murals steal the show.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 1 July 2026
  • When P-waves start radiating from the earthquake underground, Android phones sense the vibrations, start collecting data and send it back to Google servers for processing.
    — Amy Graff, New York Times, 27 June 2026
Definition of radiate
Noun
  • Other theories suggest that certain cells within the abdomen may transform into endometrial-like tissue, while some evidence points to stem cells or developmental changes that occur before birth.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • This type of inflammation may damage blood vessels, injure nerve cells and activate immune cells within the brain, all of which may contribute to cognitive decline.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of cell
Noun
  • The average time for an applicant to be on-duty is now 326 days for special agents and 256 days for police officers, the agency said.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Three of the reports stemmed from consumers swallowing the metal pieces and seeking medical treatment to remove them from their digestive tract or throat, the agency said.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of agency
Verb
  • The diamond’s widest point has shifted upward—toward the upper-middle, the professional managerial class, the dual-income homeowner—leaving a longer, thinner stem below it than the shape suggests.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 June 2026
  • That extraordinary response stemmed partly from the scale of the thing.
    — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 June 2026
Definition of stem

Phrases Containing branch

Browse Nearby Words

brambly
branch
branched
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Cite this Entry

“Branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branch. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on branch

Nglish: Translation of branch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about branch

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